Magical Express - Luggage problems?

[sndral]

Frankly with the lax security at baggage claim I have more fear that my luggage will be stolen from the carousel than I fear DME losing it. At least w/ those yellow tags it's snagged and diverted before it ever gets to the carousel. My bags were late one time when I stayed at the GF, all other trips they've been in the room when I returned from dinner and or a park, we usually arrive early evening.

...The bus sits for a certain amount of time after flights land anyway ... so it's not like you are "wasting" time. I'll just pick it up. It's easier than waiting hours and wondering.

For me up at the crack of dawn to fly cross country the last thing I want to do is schlepp down to baggage claim, wait for my luggage to arrive on the carousel (and it always seems to be the last piece out) hoist it off the carousel then wrestle w/ 2 wheelies or balancing carry on on top of the suitcase then wheeling the whole shebang to DME. I want to deplane, hit the restroom, then head straight to the DME bus.
I can't be the only one sitting on the DME bus at resort stops before mine wondering why those people getting off decided to bring all that luggage on the bus that has to be off loaded while the rest of us patiently wait. And once you get to check in you have to wheel it to the counter and then to wherever your room is and most Disney resorts aren't small so it can be a long haul w/ that luggage unless you use bell services.

 

[rtilner]

I used them 2 twice already. And thank goodness no problem.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Never had a problem and we always tip the drivers

AKK

 

[Mousemommy1]

Out of the 6+ times we have used it, we only had issues once and though it wasn't confirmed, I believe the issue was with Southwest and not DME.

 

[lffam]

We used MDE to go from our resort to the airport on checkout. We checked our bags in with the Airline checkin at the resort. We were one of the first there so timing wasnt an issue.

When we arrived in LAX after about 40mins it was clear our bags hadnt arrived with us. We were eventually told one bag went to New York and one Went to Dallas and would they were up to 6 hours away. The airline advised they did not recieve the bags in time from Disney . As I said earlier we checked in right after they opened so there was ample time. Airline delivered the luggage to our LA hotel one 4 hours one 6 hours later. I contacted disney, spoke to one SM who said would get a manager to call but I never heard back.

irony is checking in baggage doesn't really phase me and this trip I would have had airline status so would have had priority check in so wouldn't have waited or anything. lol all worked out in the end but I probably wouldn't use them again.

 

[NJlauren]

I have used it once and apparently got extremly lucky my bags where in the room before I got off MDE! Now I'm debating what to do for my upcoming trip

I think I'll pack some items with me but I'm debating if I should pick up my own bags or not as well since this trip I'll have an infant with me... I'm leaning towards letting them deliver one less thing for me to carry won a 10 month old.

 

[maxiesmom]

We used MDE to go from our resort to the airport on checkout. We checked our bags in with the Airline checkin at the resort. We were one of the first there so timing wasnt an issue.

When we arrived in LAX after about 40mins it was clear our bags hadnt arrived with us. We were eventually told one bag went to New York and one Went to Dallas and would they were up to 6 hours away. The airline advised they did not recieve the bags in time from Disney

DME are not the ones that handle your bags on the way back to the airport. That error would belong to Resort Airline Check-In. When you check in your bags at the resort it is the same as if you are handing them off at the airport. The airline is trying to pass the blame from something they did wrong.

 

[goofy4tink]

Frankly with the lax security at baggage claim I have more fear that my luggage will be stolen from the carousel than I fear DME losing it. At least w/ those yellow tags it's snagged and diverted before it ever gets to the carousel. My bags were late one time when I stayed at the GF, all other trips they've been in the room when I returned from dinner and or a park, we usually arrive early evening.


For me up at the crack of dawn to fly cross country the last thing I want to do is schlepp down to baggage claim, wait for my luggage to arrive on the carousel (and it always seems to be the last piece out) hoist it off the carousel then wrestle w/ 2 wheelies or balancing carry on on top of the suitcase then wheeling the whole shebang to DME. I want to deplane, hit the restroom, then head straight to the DME bus.
I can't be the only one sitting on the DME bus at resort stops before mine wondering why those people getting off decided to bring all that luggage on the bus that has to be off loaded while the rest of us patiently wait. And once you get to check in you have to wheel it to the counter and then to wherever your room is and most Disney resorts aren't small so it can be a long haul w/ that luggage unless you use bell services.

Don't get me started!!! The longest ride times I've had on DME were the times there was a ton of baggage to be off loaded. I completely understand that a guest may have a reason to bring their bags to the bus, but it really does slow down the process...on both ends. I've actually seen guests standing in the bus line, at MCO, taking out the yellow luggage tags, and putting them on their checked bags....for the bus ride to the resort! One time I tried to be helpful and quietly told the woman that the tags weren't needed for the bus ride. She glared at me, told me she knew exactly how it worked....if you're riding the bus, with the bags, the bags must be tagged!!!! As she turned away, she loudly remarked to her group that 'some people think they know how it works when it's quite obvious they have no clue what they're talking about!!! Ok then.....I now keep my thoughts to myself since I clearly have no idea what I'm talking about.

DME are not the ones that handle your bags on the way back to the airport. That error would belong to Resort Airline Check-In. When you check in your bags at the resort it is the same as if you are handing them off at the airport. The airline is trying to pass the blame from something they did wrong.

Everyone lumps RAC in with DME....and of course if something goes wrong, they blame Disney! Every single time. RAC (remote airline check-in) is an off shoot of curbside check in...has nothing to do with Disney other than being on site at their resorts. They also are at resorts/hotels around the world. There is a reason that RAC stipulates that you must be done with your check in and walking away from the podium no less than 3 hrs prior to flight departure. And that makes it impossible to use RAC if you're flying much before 8:30am. It's a great perk, but it's not perfect.

Airlines lose more luggage in a day than DME misdirects in 3 years!!! (at least that's what I would imagine). If an airline misdirects your bag, who knows where it will end up or how long it will take to finally get to you. Not a huge issue if you're sitting at home, but if you're on vacation it's a whole different story. If DME misdirects a bag, it's going to be on-site someplace. Yes WDW is a huge place, but you'll get your bag without a long wait. Mistakes happen...nothing is perfect.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I will get our luggage from the carousel prior to getting on the bus. Thanks for the responses!

Good choice. If youre worried about getting them on time, i'd be getting my bags too. Maybe i just had back luck the past two trips, but honestly never again will I use DME.

A few less than ideal experiences really isn't a reason to not use the full service.

Why not? btw collecting your own luggage isnt really a big deal. i've done it at mco.

I find it funny that most of the posters are trying to talk the OP out of getting her own luggage. lol.

 

[goofy4tink]

Good choice. If youre worried about getting them on time, i'd be getting my bags too. Maybe i just had back luck the past two trips, but honestly never again will I use DME.

Why not? btw collecting your own luggage isnt really a big deal. i've done it at mco.

I find it funny that most of the posters are trying to talk the OP out of getting her own luggage. lol.

I'm not trying to talk her out of getting her own luggage...assuming it's a she anyway. But I am trying to give a well rounded view. Is anything perfect? Nope. We need both sides of a situation to make a good choice.
I don't much care who gets their own luggage!!! Not an issue for me. The thing I think is really odd? All the posters that say they want to rent a car but don't want to lug their bags around, so want to send it via DME while they take a car!! Talk about two completely different views.

 

[maxiesmom]

Good choice. If youre worried about getting them on time, i'd be getting my bags too. Maybe i just had back luck the past two trips, but honestly never again will I use DME.

Why not? btw collecting your own luggage isnt really a big deal. i've done it at mco.

I find it funny that most of the posters are trying to talk the OP out of getting her own luggage. lol.

Well I find it funny that people are trying to talk her into getting it. To me, that is a huge waste of time, and very unnecessary. If you trust the airlines enough to check bags, when we all know bags are misdirected all of the time, why don't you trust DME to grab them off of the belt? The airlines are much more liable to lose your bags than DME.

I just don't see the point of wasting that time in the airport. I want to start my vacation asap, not go and get my bags and haul them through the airport when someone else is happy to do it for me.

 

[erc]

I find it funny that most of the posters are trying to talk the OP out of getting her own luggage. lol.

I think it would be the same if you ask if airlines have ever lost anyone's luggage. You would always get a few responses saying, "yes, and what a nightmare". The correct response isn't well, I'm never checking luggage with an airline again. I will carry it on in a huge bag that can barely fit in the overhead compartment.

There have already been examples of how someone else's choice to bring their own luggage along has slowed up the process for everyone else. So that is probably the motivation for hoping people use the full DME service.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I don't ever check bags with either airlines or DME unless I am staying longer than a week.

 

[Magpie]

Thanks to some unfortunate experiences with airlines and the increasing price per bag/elimination of complimentary bag check, my family now travels with carry-on, only.

It's surprisingly easy to pack two weeks into a single rolling bag that fits in your overhead, plus shoulder bag and/or purse. Especially if you're going somewhere warm.

As a result, our bags are always with us, and we get through airports faster and with less hassle. We don't even do sky check any more, after I witnessed the bag handlers tossing the sky-checked bags OFF the top of the rolling stairs into the luggage bin on the tarmac... and occasionally missing!

We always tip the MDE driver when he pulls our bag out from under the bus, but I've noticed that we're in a minority there. Most people don't tip the driver - it's usually just us and maybe two or three others. So, I think it's definitely a good thing for us to remind each other about, on forums like this. Yes, if you hated the ride to your resort and thought the driver was terrible or rude or didn't handle your bags with respect, you don't have to tip him. But if he did his job adequately, then - for goodness sake - tip the man!

Once we're at our resort, it's quite nice not having to wait for our bags. We can unpack immediately, and begin our vacation without delay.

 

[LegalEze]

Good choice. If youre worried about getting them on time, i'd be getting my bags too. Maybe i just had back luck the past two trips, but honestly never again will I use DME.

Why not? btw collecting your own luggage isnt really a big deal. i've done it at mco.

I find it funny that most of the posters are trying to talk the OP out of getting her own luggage. lol.

I'm going to do the same as well. We don't land until 7, and I want my luggage before midnight We've been to MCO plenty of times, and you're right, it's really not a big deal. In fact, it's one of the easier airports to collect luggage from!

 

[LegalEze]

Thanks to some unfortunate experiences with airlines and the increasing price per bag/elimination of complimentary bag check, my family now travels with carry-on, only.

It's surprisingly easy to pack two weeks into a single rolling bag that fits in your overhead, plus shoulder bag and/or purse. Especially if you're going somewhere warm.

As a result, our bags are always with us, and we get through airports faster and with less hassle. We don't even do sky check any more, after I witnessed the bag handlers tossing the sky-checked bags OFF the top of the rolling stairs into the luggage bin on the tarmac... and occasionally missing!

We always tip the MDE driver when he pulls our bag out from under the bus, but I've noticed that we're in a minority there. Most people don't tip the driver - it's usually just us and maybe two or three others. So, I think it's definitely a good thing for us to remind each other about, on forums like this. Yes, if you hated the ride to your resort and thought the driver was terrible or rude or didn't handle your bags with respect, you don't have to tip him. But if he did his job adequately, then - for goodness sake - tip the man!

Once we're at our resort, it's quite nice not having to wait for our bags. We can unpack immediately, and begin our vacation without delay.

I thought about doing this - packing us into carry ons and then shipping toiletries via that grocer service.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm going to do the same as well. We don't land until 7, and I want my luggage before midnight We've been to MCO plenty of times, and you're right, it's really not a big deal. In fact, it's one of the easier airports to collect luggage from!

What are your plans if the airline misdirects your luggage?

 

[amg35]

We were ones who got off plane in the other terminal (A I think), went down/back up/down whatever , got our own luggage and then went to board Magical Express.

My point, it took no time at all, totally easy. I find the Orlando airport rather small and it was easy to navigate.

Nice to have my luggage with me, got to hotel, room was ready, good experience. Otherwise bell services can hold your luggage.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Well I find it funny that people are trying to talk her into getting it. To me, that is a huge waste of time, and very unnecessary. If you trust the airlines enough to check bags, when we all know bags are misdirected all of the time, why don't you trust DME to grab them off of the belt? The airlines are much more liable to lose your bags than DME.

I just don't see the point of wasting that time in the airport. I want to start my vacation asap, not go and get my bags and haul them through the airport when someone else is happy to do it for me.

Lets be clear. Im not trying to talk her into getting it. The OP said she would get her own luggage, and after she said that, after she posted her decision, people were posting about what a bad idea that was etc. That’s why I said “its funny how people are trying to convince her not to get her own luggage”.

Its unnecessary to YOU, but maybe not for others. If you want access to your bags right away as soon as you get your room, getting your own luggage is a good idea. Plus some people don’t bother with carry-ons, so they don’t get to pack essentials there.

To me, its not about being paranoid that the airlines will lose our luggage. Far from it. My issue is with how long it takes the luggage to get to my room. Maybe its an issue with bell services at the resort? I don’t know. But after two experiences (two different resorts), I’ve had enough. And like I said, people are making it seem as thou its so time consuming and inconvenient to get your own luggage. Its really not.

I'm not trying to talk her out of getting her own luggage...assuming it's a she anyway. But I am trying to give a well rounded view. Is anything perfect? Nope. We need both sides of a situation to make a good choice.
I don't much care who gets their own luggage!!! Not an issue for me. The thing I think is really odd? All the posters that say they want to rent a car but don't want to lug their bags around, so want to send it via DME while they take a car!! Talk about two completely different views.

Yes, that’s odd for sure.

 

[LegalEze]

We were ones who got off plane in the other terminal (A I think), went down/back up/down whatever , got our own luggage and then went to board Magical Express.

My point, it took no time at all, totally easy. I find the Orlando airport rather small and it was easy to navigate.

Nice to have my luggage with me, got to hotel, room was ready, good experience. Otherwise bell services can hold your luggage.

Exactly. Orlando is small and very, very easy to navigate. I had to laugh where I read the one response complaining about going up and down the escalator. Really?? LOL